Demi Lovato and David Archuleta perform Aug. 8 at Target Center. ... Bonnie Raitt will open the State Fair on Aug. 27. Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks there on Aug. 29. The Gin Blossoms will play the Aquatennial party on July 17. ... Mother Banjo will stage a release party for "The Sad and Found," a nicely crafted quiet folk-grass CD produced by Darren Jackson and John Hermanson, on Thursday at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. ... Producer Rodney Jerkins will be the lead judge on "Starmaker," a new reality music show created by Sean Combs and Mark Burnett. ... Jill Sobule has released "California Years," financed with $75,000 collected from her fans.

JON BREAM